He smiled in response, and noted with pleasure that the black hat was
intensely becoming. She was not ill-dressed for the part she had to play,
for the black silk rain-coat gave the touch of the traveller to her
costume.
The door swung open before they could say another word, and the young man
remembered that he must introduce his new friend. As there was no further
opportunity to ask her about her name, he must trust to luck.
The girl obeyed the motion of the servant and slipped up to the
dressing-room as if she were a frequent guest in the house, but it was in
some trepidation that Tryon Dunham removed his overcoat and arranged his
necktie. He had caught a passing glimpse of the assembled company, and
knew that Mr. Bowman was growing impatient for his dinner. His heart
almost failed him now that the girl was out of sight. What if she should
not prove to be accustomed to society, after all, and should show it? How
embarrassing that would be! He had seen her only in a half-light as yet.
How had he dared?
But it was too late now, for she was coming from the dressing-room, and
Mrs. Bowman was approaching them with outstretched hands, and a welcome in
her face.
"My dear Miss Remington, it is so good of you to help me out! I can see by
the first glance that it is going to be a privilege to know you. I can't
thank you enough for waiving formalities."
"It was very lovely of you to ask me," said the girl, with perfect
composure, "a stranger----"
"Don't speak of it, my dear. Mr. Dunham's friends are not strangers, I
assure you. Tryon, didn't you tell her how long we have known each other?
I shall feel quite hurt if you have never mentioned me to her. Now, come,
for my cook is in the last stages of despair over the dinner. Miss
Remington, how do you manage to look so fresh and lovely after a long sea
voyage? You must tell me your secret."
The young man looked down at the girl and saw that her dress was in
perfect taste for the occasion, and also that she was very young and
beautiful. He was watching her with a kind of proprietary pride as she
moved forward to be introduced to the other guests, when he saw her sweep
one quick glance about the room, and for just an instant hesitate and draw
back. Her face grew white; then, with a supreme effort, she controlled her
feelings, and went through her part with perfect ease.
When Judge Blackwell was introduced to the girl, he looked at her with
what seemed to Dunham to be more than a passing interest; but the keen
eyes were almost immediately transferred to his own face, and the young
man had no further time to watch his protégé, as dinner was immediately
announced.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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